Neighbors: Girls Club of Greenfield needs help

I’m sure many of you remember when Camp Stonehenge on Oak Hill Road in Leyden was filled with Girl Scouts attending summer camp — you may have been one of them.

Sadly, the stone building has fallen into disrepair over the years, but the Girls Club of Greenfield hopes to revive it , filling it once again with happy children.

The club, which actually welcomes girls and boys, now owns the property that once housed both its Camp Lion Knoll and Camp Stonehenge. Nadine Benzaia, executive director of the Girls Club, tells me the beautiful stone building, which was built with stone quarried in Factory Hollow, needs your help.

First, she says the club is looking for information about Camp Stonehenge’s history, which would include photos and stories from former Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cadettes, troop leaders, and anyone else who may have special memories of the place.

The club would also gladly accept any donations for repairs to the building. She tells me a portion of the roof needs to be replaced, and because the interior has been gutted, floors, walls and ceilings need to be rebuilt. She says the building also needs new plumbing and heating systems and the club would like to build a small addition and add some bathrooms.

“We’d love to incorporate the building into our summer camp program,” she says.

Established in 1958 — the year I was born (I’m going to make you do the math) — Camp Lion Knoll is a summer day camp for girls and boys ages 4½ to 12. There are 40 acres of open fields and pine forests, a man-made swimming area, a craft pavilion, a large dining hall with attached kitchen, and a nature cabin and bathhouse.

Nadine says the Girls Club, which runs toddler, preschool and after-school programs for families of all income ranges, hopes to open the building at some time in the future to provide year-round programming.

So, if any of you would like to help, send your photos, stories or donations to: Girls Club of Greenfield, 35 Pierce St., Greenfield, MA 01301.

For more information, call 413-774-7407 or email: girlsclb@crocker.com.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS — I’m sure you haven’t forgotten that photo of the candy counter girls in the Garden Theater we ran in one of our supplements and then twice in Neighbors. Well, one of the names we were given was incorrect. The girl at the very end of the line is Theresa (Roberts) Russell of Maine. She wrote me from Maine on Tuesday and a few minutes later one of her friends, who lives locally, called. Her friend told me that the two had a good laugh when they read it.

“We love that it’s running so much,” she said. “It keeps it alive for us.”

SOUTH DEERFIELD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH will hold a food drive on Saturday to benefit the annual Souper Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Sunday. The church joins the 20-year tradition, which began with a simple prayer, I’m told.

Please drop off donations of nonperishable food items to the church on North Main Street in South Deerfield on Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Items may also be brought to Sunday’s worship service at 10 a.m.

All non-perishables collected will be given to the Franklin Area Survival Center.

SHIRE CAST AUDITIONS FOR MUTTON & MEAD will be held Feb. 7 from 4 to 8 p.m., Feb. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Feb. 10 and 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Montague Common Hall, 36 Main St. in Montague Center.

Mutton & Mead is looking for actors, singers, musicians and performers. The Robin Hood-themed festival will be held June 21 and 22.

ALSO ON SATURDAY IN GREENFIELD will be the Winter Fare Farmers Market at Greenfield High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be display, workshops, a soup cafe and a local Barter Fair, as well as lots of yummy winter fare.

OPEN HEARTH COOKING CLASSES will be held in Hall Tavern in Historic Deerfield from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Class sizes will be kept to eight people. The cost is $55 for anyone age 16 and older. Sounds like fun.

For more information, call 413-775-7217.

FRANKLIN COUNTY GREYHOUNDS will hold an all-you-can-eat spaghetti fundraiser on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Montague Elks Club on Columbus Avenue in Turners Falls. The money raised will benefit the team’s upcoming season in the New England Football League. The cost is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children.

GREAT FALLS DISCOVERY CENTER on Avenue A in Turners Falls will hold “Groundhog Weather School,” which is part of its winter/spring preschool series, on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for children ages 3 to 6.

For more information, call 413-863-3676.

OUR NEIGHBOR ROSEMARY CHRISTOPH of Shelburne Falls will talk Sunday at 5 p.m. in Green River Yoga Center Studio A, 158 Main St. in Greenfield about “Living from Essence.” Donations of $5 to $10 will be accepted to help cover costs. For more information, contact Rosemary at 413-625-0275 or email her at: rosemarychristoph@comcast.net.

Have a great weekend! It looks like temperatures are going to climb into the 30s starting on Friday. We may get some snow on Saturday, but a little snow might just be welcomed by at least those attending the Greenfield Winter Carnival or planning a ski outing. So, get out there and have some fun — there’s plenty to do.

To contact Anita Fritz, a staff reporter at The Recorder, send an email to: franklincountyneighbors@gmail.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 280. You can also reach Anita on Facebook at Anita’s Neighbors. Information to be included in Neighbors may also be sent to: neighbors@recorder.com up to noon two days before you want it to run.